AGI

AGI

COUNCIL 2003

Hand Book

Date: December 2002

Contents

  1. Code of Conduct for Council and Committee Members
  2. Council members attendance at Council meetings
  3. Responsibilities of the Associations Officers and Committee Members
  4. Chair
  5. Senior Vice Chair
  6. Junior vice chair
  7. Honorary Treasurer
  8. Honorary Secretary
  9. Elected Council members
  10. Committee Chairs
  11. Committee members
  12. Action Working Group Chairs
  13. Chairs group
  14. Committee Responsibilities
  15. Corporate Affairs Committee (CAC)
  16. Conference Committee
  17. Direct Action Committee (DAC)
  18. Education Committee (eCom)
  19. Standards Committee
  20. Terms of Reference – Council
  21. Terms of Reference – Management Committee
  22. Terms of Reference – GIgateway Advisory group
  23. Standard Agenda
  24. Expense claim form
  25. Council members 2003 and contact details

Note :

The Council handbook provides Council members with information that will enable each member to participate fully and in an informed manner in the affairs of the Council.

1Code of Conduct for Council and Committee members

Members serving on Council or any Committee of the Association are expected to abide by the following code of conduct:

  • to participate freely and in a professional manner;
  • to maintain commercial confidence at all times;
  • to represent the interests of all AGI members at all times;
  • to use information gained to promote the AGI;
  • to conform to the standards and procedures of the AGI;
  • to be familiar with and abide by the Memorandum of Agreement and the Articles of the Association
  • to declare any personal interests that may affect their recommendation(s) or participation in the Council.

2Council members - attendance at Council meetings

If a Council member is absent from 40% or more of Council meetings including extraordinary Council meetings in any AGI year, they will - subject to appeal to the chair, be retired from Council with effect from the commencement of the next year at the end of the AGM. Subject to Article 39, such Council members may stand for re-election.

For the number of meetings to be a whole number the percentage shall be 40% if there are 5 Council meetings in a year (normal situation) or 33% if there are six Council meetings in a year.

In order to address the problem of the attendance register not being accurate Council members are reminded that it is their duty to ensure that the minutes for each Council meeting correctly show their attendance. Failure to do so could mean the Council member is stood down if the recorded absence break the above rule.

It is the responsibility of the Secretariat to maintain the attendance record.

3Responsibilities of the Association’s Officers and Committee Members

(a)Chair of the Association

The key responsibilities of the Association chair are to:

  • chair Council meetings in accordance with the Councils Terms of Reference
  • chair Management committee meetings in accordance with the committees Terms of Reference
  • Chair the AGI Chair group meetings
  • ensure that the Council underpins the AGI’s mission, objectives and strategy
  • represent the Association with communications with the media and other external bodies
  • represent the Management Committee at Council meetings
  • keep the Management Committee informed of Council decisions
  • produce a written report to Council on their Association activities ten working days prior to the next Council meeting
  • oversee all aspects of the Council and Management committees budget, including drafting, monitoring and approval of expenditure
  • monitor and support action working groups established by Council or the Management Committee

(b)Senior Vice Chair of the Association

The key responsibilities of the Association Senior Vice Chair are to:

  • to deputise for the Chair in times of absence at Council and Management committee meetings
  • manage the production of the strategy for the next Association year, (for the year the Vice Chair may become Chair of the Association)
  • Provide an Association welcome message at AGI seminars, meetings and conferences.
  • Undertake the quarterly level 2 reviews together with the Junior vice Chair and the AGI Director. Ensure the outcome from the reviews has been cicurlated to the AGI Director and the AGI Chair.

(c)Junior Vice Chair of the Association

The key responsibilities of the Associations Junior Vice Chair are to:

  • to deputise for the Chair and Senior Vice Chair in times of absence at Council and Management committee meeting
  • to lead special initiatives required by the Chair where there is a requirement for all parts of the Association to be involved and this is not part of a standing committees remit
  • undertake the quarterly level 2 reviews together with the Senior vice Chair and the AGI Director. Document the outcome within 10 working days and inform the AGI Director and the AGI Chair.

(d)Honorary Treasurer

The key responsibilities of the Honorary Treasurer are to:

  • to be responsible for the Associations Accounts and budget
  • to advise Council on all matters appertaining to the Associations financial viability
  • to present the Management accounts at each Council meeting

(e)Honorary Secretary

The key responsibilities of the Honorary Secretary are to:

  • to take the minutes and issue them when the Council or the Management Team go into closed session
  • ensure minutes are produced and lodged with Secretariat within 10 working days of each Council meeting
  • to monitor and support the Secretariat in all matters appertaining to Companies House, which will include the formal submission of the Associations approved accounts, each year and notification of the changes in the Associations Directors.

(f)Elected Council members (Directors of the company)

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Association. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

  • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
  • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
  • state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts
  • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the Association will continue
  • ensure proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Association are maintained
  • ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985
  • safeguard the assets of the Association
  • take reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities
  • confirm that these financial statements comply with the above requirements
  • prepare for each Council meeting to ensure meetings meet their objectives
  • complete their actions within the agreed time frame
  • complete any expense claims in accordance with the AGI’s procedures
  • represent their allocated area within the Council committee if applicable
  • keep the Council informed on all GI matters that are of relevance to the Council and in particular to the AGI as a whole.
  • keep the Honorary Secretary informed regarding their contact details
  • actively support and assist with all working committee activities when ever possible
  • encourage members to become involved in the workings of the Association
  • encourage organisations and people to become members of the Association.

(g)Committee Chairs

The key responsibilities of the Committee chairs are to:

  • chair all committee meetings in accordance with the committees Terms of Reference
  • ensure that the committee underpins the AGI’s mission, objectives and strategy
  • represent the committee at Council meetings or other bodies to which the committee reports
  • represent the committee at Management meetings if applicable for the committee
  • keep the committee informed of Council and Management Team decisions
  • ensure minutes are produced and lodged with the Secretariat within 10 working days of each committee meeting
  • produce a written committee report to Council ten working days prior to the next Council meeting if applicable for the committee
  • manage all aspects of the committee budget, including drafting, monitoring and approval of expenditure
  • monitor and support committee action working groups
  • advise the AGI officers, Secretariat on GI related matters of relevance to the AGI

(h)Committee Members

The key responsibilities of each committee member are to:

  • prepare for each committee meeting to ensure meetings meet their objectives
  • complete their actions within the agreed time frame
  • complete any expense claims in accordance with the AGI’s procedures
  • represent their allocated area within the committee if applicable
  • keep the committee informed on all GI matters that are of relevance to the committee and in particular to the AGI as a whole
  • keep the Secretary informed regarding their contact details
  • actively support and assist with all committee activities when ever possible

(i)Action Working Group Chair

The key responsibilities of the AWG are to:

  • ensure the AWG meets the objectives set by the committee that commissioned the AWG
  • regularly report to the Chair of the committee that commissioned the AWG

4The Chairs’ Group

Membership

The AGI Chairs’ Group is made up of the four Chairs (immediate past chair, current chair, senior vice-chair and junior vice-chair) and the Director.

Communication and decision-making

On all non-contentious day-to-day issues, or on issues of agreed AGI policy, both the AGI Chair and Director can make public statements and communicate with external organisations.

If either the Chair or Director feels an issue goes beyond the day-to-day, or strays into an area on which there is no AGI agreed policy, he will consult the other and decide whether the issue needs to be shared with the rest of the Chairs’ Group.

As already agreed by Council, where no AGI policy exists and when there is no time for a full consultation, the Chairs’ Group may comment on an issue as long as there is a retrospective submission to Council for approval. Where time permits, a proposal may be passed to members of AGI’s Management Committee for further advice, but will ultimately go through the existing AGI procedures for formulating policy.

e-mails

The preferred method of communication between members of the Chairs’ Group is e-mail. Wherever possible a proposed course of action will be recommended and a deadline given for responses. All e-mails will be clearly marked as an item for decision with a response date in the “subject” box. It is then incumbent upon members of the group to respond by the deadline and the decision will be taken by a majority vote of those responding. On the rare occasions when members of the Chairs’ Group are unable to respond, their silence will be taken as neither supporting nor opposing the proposed course of action.

ML 15.8.02

5Committee Responsibilities

5(a)Corporate Affairs Committee

National Affairs

To monitor relevant national activity in order to identify immediately issues on which the Association's advice should be offered.

  • Manage and report upon all matters related to national parliamentary affairs in close liaison with the Secretariat and in particular PITCOM.
  • Lobbying activities.

International Affairs

To monitor relevant international activity in order to identify immediately issues on which the Association's advice should be offered.

  • Manage and report upon all matters related to AGI's European presence in close liaison with the Secretariat and in particular EUROGI, the European Commission together with its associated organisations, and the European Parliament.
  • Lobbying activities.
Membership Affairs

To manage and report upon all matters related to AGI membership in close liaison with the Secretariat:

  • Membership benefits
  • New member initiatives
Public Relations

To manage and report upon all matters related to public relations and external communications in close liaison with the Secretariat. This will include:

  • liaison with the media;
  • support with the production of press releases;
  • support and advice to the Secretariat with regard to producing and publishing the AGI Newsletter;
  • support AGI at exhibitions;
  • monitor and when applicable report on the activities of the AGI as a whole to ensure the AGI corporate image is being maintained to the highest standard in accordance with the published mission statement and strategy;
  • lobbying activities.

Constitutional Affairs

  • To advise Council on all Constitutional matters and to provide advice and support to the Secretariat with regard to the AGM

Internal Affairs

AGI Awards, Lecture and Dinner:

  • To administer the AGI Awards Scheme, Annual Dinner and Annual Lecture.

AGI Revenue:

  • To be alert to any opportunity to increase the Association's income stream and to advise Council accordingly.

Partnerships

  • Define objectives for partner relationships such as PITCOM and IGGI.

5(b)Conference Committee

The Conference committee on behalf of the Association manages, recommends and reports on all aspects of the Annual Conference jointly together with the secretariat and the exhibition subcontractor:

  • programme
  • speakers
  • the presentation of
  • publications
  • awareness programme
  • liaison with Exhibition subcontractor
  • paper selection (a sub committee)

5(c)Direct Action Committee

The DAC on behalf of the Association manages, recommends and reports on the technical programme, SIG’s and other short term projects

Special projects

  • round table co-ordination, management and reporting

Special Interest Group Co-ordination

  • negotiating, monitoring and presenting SIG budgets

Standards (a sub committee)

Spatial Infrastructure Programmes

  • monitoring, reporting and recommending on each initiative.

5(d)Education Committee

Note: This committee has been suspended. Work currently undertaken by an action working group reporting to the CAC.

The e-committee on behalf of the Association manages, recommends and reports on the education, research and publications programme.

Research programme

  • GISRUK sponsorship

Schools programme

  • managing, monitoring and reporting on the schools award
  • providing information and raising awareness of GI in schools

Raising GI Awareness

  • Publications programme – identifying, commissioning and editing GI publication

identifying areas where publications would assist raise awareness

5(e)AGI’s Standards Committee

Organisation

The Standards Committee reports to AGI Council through the Direct Action Committee (DAC). Over the past 10 years, it has established itself as the official standards committee for geographic information in the UK. It is constituted as an external committee of British Standards Institution (BSI), named IST/36, and is supported financially by AGI. Under annual contracts, AGI pays BSI administration fees, and for an external secretariat. AGI obtains revenue through the sale of standards, and through seminars. Standards development work is financed by sponsorship and government grants.

Membership of IST/36 is open to all members of AGI. The main committee, chaired by John Rowley, currently has 15 members. It meets three times a year and deals with policy and votes on national and international standards. The detailed work is carried out by Technical Panels and Review Groups, often convened for a specific purpose. More than 30 people have participated in these during the past year.

The primary aim of the committee is to equip the UK with a set of standards for better exploitation and sharing of geographic information. The main objectives are as follows:

  • to provide UK input to international standards for geographic information
  • to produce a series of British Standards for geographic information
  • to contribute towards all relevant spatial standards authorities on open interoperability standards

International Standards

There are three main international standards bodies relevant to geographic information:

  • CEN, the European standards body. During the 1990s, a committee for geographic information produced a limited set of standards. CEN standards maybe mandated by EU directives.
  • ISO, International Standards Organisation. The committee for geographic information (ISO/TC 211) is very active, with a work programme of 25 standards, most of which are scheduled to become Draft International Standards during 2000-2001. There are more that 20 active member countries, and regular attendance in excess of 100 at its meetings. The UK holds the convenorship of its Working Group on data standards. This was previously filled by Ordnance Survey, and now by Rob Walker.
  • OGC, the open GIS Consortium, a group of system suppliers creating implementation-level standards for interoprobability. Close liaison has been set up between OGC and ISO/TC 211 so that OGC specifications can be put forward as ISO standards.

The UK participates actively in the International Standards programme in order that the resulting standards are suitable for the UK market:

  • representation at all Technical Committee and Working Group meetings:
  • extensive review and comment of draft standards
  • provision of specialist expertise (five projects are led by UK personnel)
  • coordination of the activities of ISO/TC 211 with OGC and other related IT standards activities

Travel to international meetings is largely financed by DTI grants. In some cases, top-up funding is provided by AGI. Attendees’ time is provided at their employer’s expense.British Standards activities

In recent years, the main activity has been related to BS 7666 Spatial datasetsfor geographical referencing. This forms the basis of many of the national initiatives such as the National Street Gazetteer and the NLPG. All development work has been sponsored by bodies from the user community. Other British Standards produced have been BS 7567 National Transfer Format, used for the supply of Ordnance Survey data, and BS 7975, UK Standard Geographic Base, currently at the public review stage

6Terms of Reference - Council

The purpose of the Council is to govern the Association in accordance with the Articles of Association, which includes managing the business, controlling the Association, allocating work but not undertaking work itself. (Articles of Association clause 49)

2Within this purpose the aims of the council will be to:

2.1provide wise counsel and support to the Secretariat, the main working committees, special interest groups, regional groups and other groups established by Council from time to time.